Olivet College awarded 2014 Military Friendly Schools designation

Olivet College has been named to the 2014 Military Friendly Schools list by Victory Media, the premier media entity for military personnel transitioning into civilian life. The 2014 Military Friendly Schools list honors the top 20 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools in the country that are doing the most to embrace America’s military service members, veterans and spouses as students, and ensure their success on campus.

“By offering a veteran friendly campus and encouraging student soldiers to apply, we have the opportunity to create a challenging and rewarding educational experience,” said Leslie Sullivan, Olivet College’s registrar and designated correspondent with the Department of Veterans Affairs. “In turn, the valuable life experiences these heroes offer can only broaden the diversity of staff, faculty and other students here at Olivet.”

“Inclusion on the 2014 list of Military Friendly Schools shows Olivet College’s commitment to providing a supportive environment for military students,” said Sean Collins, vice president at Victory Media and a nine-year Navy veteran. “The need for education is growing and our mission is to provide the military community with transparent, world-class resources to assist in their search for schools.” Complete survey methodology is available at militaryfriendlyschools.com/Article/methodology-press-kit.

Olivet College recognizes and honors the sacrifices that U.S. service members make in the defense of our nation. The college is dedicated to assisting veterans, guardsman, reservists and others receiving U.S. military benefits in making a successful transition to the Olivet College community.

The college’s Student Services office currently assists 22 veterans, active duty military students and dependents of veterans with certification, registration and financial aid. The college has established a school profile with GoArmyEd, a one-stop location for managing school education and obtaining tuition assistance benefits used by all active Army and Army Reserve soldiers. In addition, the college is home to a support organization for veteran and active duty students and their families. Olivet College Veterans’ Advocates assist students with transition issues, credit recognition and admission counseling, among other services. On Veterans Day each year, the college recognizes students, faculty and staff who have served by inviting them to share their experiences with the community during a formal presentation organized by Cynthia Noyes, J.D., associate professor of sociology and anthropology.

The Military Friendly Schools media and website, found at www.militaryfriendlyschools.com, feature the list, interactive tools and search functionality to help military students find the best school to suit their unique needs and preferences. The colleges, universities and trade schools on this year’s list exhibit leading practices in the recruitment and retention of students with military experience. These schools have world-class programs and policies for student support on campus, academic accreditation, credit policies, flexibility and other services to those who served.

Now in its fifth year, the 2014 list of Military Friendly Schools was compiled through extensive research and a data-driven survey of more than 10,000 schools nationwide approved for VA tuition funding. The survey results that comprise the 2014 list were independently tested by Ernst & Young LLP based upon the weightings and methodology established by Victory Media. Each year schools taking the survey are held to a higher standard than the previous year via improved methodology, criteria and weightings developed with the assistance of an Academic Advisory Board (AAB) consisting of educators from schools across the country.

A full story and detailed list of 2014 Military Friendly Schools will be highlighted in the annual “Guide to Military Friendly Schools,” distributed in print and digital format to hundreds of thousands of active and former military personnel in early October.

About Victory Media Inc.

Victory Media is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business that has been serving the military community since 2001. Their data-driven Military Friendly lists are published in G.I. Jobs, Military Spouse and Vetrepreneur media channels, republished in periodicals including USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Fortune and Bloomberg BW, and are frequently cited on national TV by NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, CNBC, Fox News and others.